Some cyberattacks make global headlines with sophisticated tactics and massive data breaches. But others? They fly under the radar — weirdly clever, disturbingly simple, and shockingly effective.
Here are three real-world scams that prove it’s often the ordinary mistakes that cybercriminals exploit.
It started with a familiar face — a famous celebrity appearing in a YouTube ad promoting a lucrative new investment opportunity.
The problem? The video wasn’t real. Neither was the platform.
By the time the scam unraveled, more than 6,000 victims had been deceived, and a staggering £27 million was lost. Just like that.
A law firm, deep in negotiations over a six-figure settlement. Unknown to anyone, a hacker had quietly breached their systems and was silently reading every internal email. The moment the deal closed, a perfectly timed email arrived from what appeared to be the opposing counsel, complete with accurate details and official formatting.
The result?
This is a textbook example of business email compromise (BEC) — no malware required, just patient observation and flawless timing.
Ever mistyped a website address and hit Enter without a second thought? Cybercriminals are counting on exactly that. It’s called typosquatting — buying domains that are just one letter off from legitimate websites. You think you’re logging into your bank.
In reality, you’re handing your password to a phishing site.
Just a simple typo — and full account access for the attackers. No malware. No technical hacking.
Even the smartest people can fall for the smartest scams. At TechnoPeak, we believe cybersecurity isn’t about fear — it’s about awareness, preparedness, and making sure your business never becomes the next headline.
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3 cyber scams that were weirdly genius
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